The Norwegian Ship Design Company (NSD) has been awarded a contract to design a new fish feed vessel for aquaculture company BioMar, developed in close collaboration with Norwegian shipowner Egil Ulvan Rederi. The vessel will be built at Jiangsu SOHO Marine Heavy Industry in China.

Designated the NSD 75CC, the vessel is approximately 70 metres in length, with a deadweight capacity of around 4,000 tonnes. According to NSD, energy efficiency was a central design priority, encompassing hull design, propulsion systems, and operations at fish farms and in port.

The vessel will be equipped with a hybrid propulsion system combining electric and direct diesel-mechanical propulsion, supported by a battery package. NSD says the arrangement is intended to provide flexible operation under varying conditions. The dynamic positioning system has been selected with a focus on low energy consumption and reduced noise levels — a consideration given the vessel’s role operating in proximity to fish cages.

Cargo handling equipment includes a side port, elevators, a long-reach unloading boom and a 120-tonne heavy-lift crane.

NSD managing director Gjermund Johannessen said: “We greatly value the close and long-standing cooperation with Egil Ulvan Rederi. Key people in our companies have been working together since before 2000, resulting in the successful delivery of more than 10 vessels. We know each other well, have strong mutual trust and share the ambition of continuously exploring new opportunities. The close collaboration between shipowner and designer allows us to develop innovative solutions while building on decades of experience and expertise. With this contract, we now have three vessels under construction at SOHO Shipyard — another strong confirmation of the successful partnership we have built over time.”

NSD said the contract brings to three the number of vessels the company has under construction at the Chinese shipyard.